Diet - Cancer Treatment

Overview & Functions

People with cancer are at risk for developing nutritional deficiencies. The deficiencies may be the result of the cancer itself, or the side effects of common cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Malignancies directly compromise nutritional status by altering metabolism and causing loss of appetite. Changes in metabolism include an increased basal metabolic rate and increased total energy expenditure. This elevation in energy use means you'll require more calories to maintain your current weight and lean body mass.

There are also individual alterations in carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism. These changes contribute to the loss of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue (fat) stores. Cancer-associated anorexia is probably the result of physiological changes but may also be due to a psychological response to the disease.

There are several factors that may contribute to the type and degree of nutrient deficiencies:

• the primary organ where the malignancy occurs
• the severity of the cancer at the time of diagnosis
• the symptoms experienced by the person with cancer
• the type and frequency of the cancer treatment being used and the side effects associated with that treatment (surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy)
• the effect of the malignancy or disease on food and nutrient ingestion, tolerance, and utilization